Spring-wheel.



0. H. HINDS.'

SPRING WHEEL.

APPLIOATION FILED SEPT. 6, 1912.

PatenteMay 27, 1913.

OZRO H. I-IINDS, OF LE MARS, IOWA.

SPRING-WHEEL.

To all @07mm t may concern:

Be it known that I, OzRo'H. I-IINDS, a citizen of the United States, anda resident of Le Mars, in the county of Plymouth and State of Iowa, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Spring-Wheels, of whichthe following is a specification.

lThis invention is an improvement in wheels and particularly in springwheels, and consists in certain novel constructions and combinations ofparts as will be hereinafter described and claimed.

In the drawing Figure l is a side eleva tion, partly in section, of aportion of a wheel embodying my invention. Fig. 2 is a cross sect-ion onabout line 2 2 of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is an enlarged section of the outer endportion of a spoke. Fig. l is a perspective view of the outer end of oneof the piston spokes.

'In carrying out the invention, I form the wheel with what may be termeda rigid body port-ion A and a concentric but radially movable tireportion B. The body portion A has radial hollow spokes A and these arelined by metal tubes or casings having cylindrical portions C whichextend within the hollow spokes and cup-like portions C which fit withinthe rim portion A3 of the body A. A steel band At is shrunk on the rimor felly A3, and strengthens the whole wheel.

Piston spokes F are adapted to slide in the sockets A of the inner.wheel A, and are connected at their outer ends with the tire B bythreading them into sockets formed in the thickened portions D of platesD which are curved in bot-h cross section and longitudinal section toconform to the inner side of the elastic tire B, as shown in Figs. l and2. These several plates D are entirely separate from each other, and ofcourse correspond in number with the spokes of which there are usuallysixteen. The portion of the piston spokes which is adjacent to the screwthread thereon is squared, as shown in Fig. 4;, for application of awrench to insert or remove the spokes.

A stuffing-box is provided for each spoke socket., the same being formedof the usual gland E held adjustably by screw bolts and pressing uponplastic packing E held in the cup-like portion C of the spoke tubes orcasings C. The gland is shown crosswise of the inner wheel rim A3, butit may be of course arranged lengthwise thereof. Be-

Specication of Letters Patent.

Application filed September 6, 1912. Serial No. 718,893.

Patented May 27, ISHS.

neath such packing is a brass ring E2 which i'its closely around thespoke and within the cup C', and forms an important attachment of thesame. Both the casing C, C, and the ring E2 are adapted to be easilyremoved, which is done whenever they become worn to a degree impairingtheir eiiiciency. Upon being drawn out, new ones may be readilysubstituted, thus practically producing a new wheel, so far as relatesto this port-ion of the structure.

Springs G bear between the inner ends of the cylinders C and the innerends of the piston spokes F and operate to yieldingly support t-he saidspokes and to press the tire B normally outward. I find it advisable tolubricate the cylinders C and to this end, I form the piston spokes withlongitudinal bores F which open at their inner ends at the inner ends ofthe piston spokes and have at their' outer ends lateral ports F2 whichmay be closed when desired by a screw plug F3, such ports F2 formingilling openings for supplying oil to the spokes to secure thelubrication, as before described.

It is apparent that when weight is applied to the wheel as a whole, theelastic tire B is pressed inward or contracted, and the adjacent spokeor spokes F being formed inward correspondingly, and as the wheelrotates, such depression and contraction travels around the tire, thespokes F being thus successively forced inward against the tension oftheir springs Gr.

In carrying out the invention in practice, the body of the wheel may bemade of wood suitably reinforced with metal and its spokes may also bemade of wood and contain metallic casings with the cylinder portions andthe entire construction may be cheaply con structed and efficientlyserve the purpose for which it is designed.

l/Vhat I claim is l. The improvement in wheels herein describedcomprising the combination of an outer elastic tire and an inner rigidbody portion having hollow spokes and a rigid rim portion and metalcylindrical casings fixed in such spokes and having cup-like outerportions seated in the rim and felly portion of the body, stuiIing-boxesapplied to the outer ends of said hollow spokes, piston spokes securedat their outer ends to the elastic tire and extending thence into therespective spokes of the body portion, said piston spokes havinglongitudinal bores forming an oil passage and having lateral portscommunicating with the outer ends of said passages, means for closingsaid ports, and springs Within the hollow body spokes and operating uponthe inner ends of the slidable piston spokes, substantially as setforth.

2. The improvement in spring Wheels herein described, comprising aninner rigid body port-ion having hollow spokes, metal casings liningsaid spokes and having cuplike portions at their outer ends, packing insaid cups, a gland compressing the same, and a metal ring arrangedbeneath the packing, and piston spokes operating Within the casings,said piston spokes having lubricating passages, means whereby oil may besupplied thereto, and springs arranged Within the hollow bodies of thespokes, as described.

ozao YH. HiNns.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe GommissinerV of Patents, Washington, D. C.

